Toilet Installation Experts Describe The Inner-Workings of a Toilet

January 17, 2017

Here at Anthony’s Plumbing, we take pride in our toilet installation services. Now, we understand that toilets aren’t your everyday dinner conversation, and unless you’re the proud owner of an ever famous “golden throne” (seriously, there are toilets worth over $1 million dollars, and are literally plated in gold), it’s likely that you don’t go around bragging about your fixture to your friends and loved ones. Yes, the toilet is likely one of the most “hush-hush” fixtures of the household. Unless, that is, if it stops working! Now of course, you can always hire one of our toilet experts here at Anthony’s Plumbing for all your toilet service needs. However, our toilet installation specialists have a few tips to help you shift your plumbing budget away from costly emergency repair services, and towards that gold plated, luxurious loo of your dreams.

Why You Should Call Anthony’s Plumbing

Anthony’s Plumbing is here for you and all your toilet service needs. We take pride in our knowledge of the inner-workings of your bathroom fixtures, and we love talking about them! We’re here to answer any and all questions in regards to toilet maintenance, clogged toilets, toilet installation, as well as toilet repair and replacement services.

Avoid Costly repairs
In the United States, the average cost to hire a plumber is $160 to $430 per project. Broken down, that is $45 to $150 per hour with an additional fee for parts. Some plumbers charge a flat fee instead. For clogged toilets, the cost can easily run upwards of $600! If you have to call a plumber for a clogged toilet only 1,667 times in your life span, you could have easily bought yourself a golden throne in repair costs. Typical replacement parts for toilets average only around $5 to $50 each, depending on the brand of toilet and parts needed. Neglected plumbing carries numerous “hidden” costs as well. Leaking water, for instance, results in higher water bills and costly repair services. Flooring, sub-flooring, ceilings, and walls may need repair or replacing, depending on the extent of the damage.
Learning more about how to prevent and deal with toilet-related problems can save you a fair amount of money!

Plumbing Emergencies
Ignoring a minor plumbing problem can lead to a personal catastrophe. If you’re able to fix the smaller problem on your own, you’re far less likely to need an expensive emergency plumber. Some negative results of a plumbing emergency, such as a burst pipe or sewage backup, include:
• Serious health and safety concerns
• Extensive damage to your home
• Costly repairs

Are You Unknowingly Causing Problems?
Many products today like to advertise themselves as “safe to flush”. However, listening to the label can be a costly mistake. You should never, (yes, even if the package says to do it) flush anything other than toilet paper down your toilet. Doing so can cause you to experience raw sewage on your property, bursting pipes, expensive bills, clogged drains, and a really awkward conversation with your neighbors. Don’t give into package pressure! When in doubt if something is “flushable” call Anthony’s Plumbing for clarification!

What You Should Know

Toilets have moving parts, and moving parts tend to wear out and break down. By becoming familiar with different parts of your toilet, you’re more apt to know what to repair or replace when there’s a problem. Here are some of the most noteworthy:• Flapper: When you push down on the handle, the flapper lifts, which allows water to flow through the trap and into the sewer; without it, water would flow continuously• Flange and Wax Ring: The flange and wax ring hold your toilet to the ground and ensures water doesn’t leak• Tank: This is the “brains” of the toilet and is also the largest part. It pushes water down the main sewage pipe and refills the toilet bowl with water. Once it empties, a refill mechanism kicks in that refills the tank with new water.• Float Ball: This prevents water from entering the toilet tank by rising to an angle that closes the flapper.• Trip Lever: The trip lever lifts the flapper to flush the toilet.. Plastic trip levers are growing in popularity, but are more apt to deteriorate.• Bowl: As it has been for centuries, toilet bowls are made from porcelain (and occasionally, solid gold). This is due to porcelain’s durability, ability to shrug off water, ease to clean, and relatively low cost. The bowl is the first place all of your goods go before being flushed down the drain.• Overflow Tube: The overflow tube empties directly into the bowl. It prevents the tank from overflowing by directing extra water into the bowl. This serves as one way to ensure that your floor doesn’t become saturated with water or sewage.• Refill Tube: The refill tube directs water into the overflow tube. The water then fills the bowl after each flush. It is meant to maintain the water level in the bowl.• Stop Valve: Arguably the most important part for homeowners to know, the stop valve can be closed or opened by hand at will. Closing the stop valve prevents water from refilling the pipes, thereby preventing flooding. It is located in the back of the toilet, close to the ground.• Supply Tube: This is the most common area to replace when a toilet leaks. It connects the toilet tank to the water supply valve.
Knowing the ins and outs of your toilet has the potential to save you money and hassle, prevent disruptions to your life, and avoid health and safety concerns. With a small amount of information, you have great deal of power.

Call today for more information about our toilet installation services!